Coin-controlled cigar exhibiting and vending apparatus



. No. 596.441. Patented Dec. 20, I898.

4/ v w. L. DUNHAM.

COIN CONTROLLED CIGAR EXHIBITING AND VENDING APPARATUS.

' Application filed Jan. 12, 1898. N0 MndeLT- 2 Sheets---Sheet l.

Patented Dec. 20, I898. w. L. DUNHAM.

COIN CONTROLLED CIGAR EXHIBITING AND VENDING'APPARATUS.

(Application filed Jan. 12 1898.

2 Sheets- Sheet 2.

(No Model.

@Mtwww n'rran States Patent rrrcn.

\VILLIAM LOGAN DUNIIAM, OF \VASIUNGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ASSIGNOR, -YY DIREO" AND MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO THE DUNIIAM MACHINE COMPANY, OF ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED CIGAR EXHlBlTlNG AND VENDlNdAPPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters .Patent No. 616,441, dated. December 20, 1898.

Application filed January 12, 1898. Serial No. 666,442. (1% model.)

To 7/ It-7mm it" may (u/1.007%:

Be it known that l, .VILLIAM LOGAN DUN- inui, a citizen of the United States oi". America, and a resident of vvashington, District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Coin-ControlledCigar Exhibiting and (ending Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to a device and apparatus for exhibiting and automatically delivering merchandise to a person upon the placing of a proper coin in a slot provided therefor and upon the subsequent actuation of an operating-lunatic located within convenient reach of the operating purchaser, and has for its prime object to provide a simple and inexpensive coin-controlled means for transmitting and conveying cigars direct from cigar-boxes displayed in a suitable ornamental show-case, as now exhibited, to vend from said boxes independently of each other to the discharge end of a delivery-chute into the hands of the purchaser in satisfactory manner.

To these ends my invention consists, first, of aharness of a simpleand inexpensive character for the cigars that is flexible and easily adapted to be engaged and disengaged from the cigars and that is especially designed and adapted to fold into the cigar-box with the cigars as packed for the trade and by means of which the cigars can be withdrawn successively and directly therefrom and advanced and fed forward to the point of delivery,wherc they are successively liberated and vended, and, second, of a coin-controlled mechanism that comprises ((1) a draft mechanism that is adapted to actuate, when engaged in i working connection with said cigar-harness, upon the introduction of the proper coin, whereby the cigars may be fed or direct-ed laterally, preferably from the top of the cigarhox to the vending or discharge chute, and (Z1) mechanism in operative relation to the powcr.-transmittingmeansrequired toactuate said draft mechanism that is arranged to simultaneously deposit the coin into an inspection-chamber, where it is displayed to indicate the amount of purchase, while simultaneously discharging a preceding coin as Well as sounding an alarm to give notice of sai operation.

My invention further consists of combinations and subcombinations to be hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents in perspective a one-case compartment containing a box of cigars as arranged for vending said cigars according to my invention. Fig. 2 represents a top plan view of the same. Fig. '3 represents in cross-section the cigar-box and ciganharncss folded therein as is contemplated by my invention. Fig. 4 represents in end elevation the coin-controlled power-transmitting mechanism as arranged to move the cigar-harness when brought into Working engagement therewith, while Fig. 5 represents asection taken at .r I through the coin-controlledmechanism case, as indicated in dotted lines, and Fig. 6 indicates asection taken at 1 y of the same. Fig. 7 represents in detail the chain member.

Like numerals indicate like parts in the several figures.

Referring to the drawings, 7 indicates the harness or conveyor-belt intended for the cigar-withdrawal apparatus and comprises a pair of chain members or carriers that consist each of a series of pivotally-conneeted cups or retainers 8, that are preferably made of flexible material, and that are adapted to fit over the respective opposite ends of the cigars when horizontally disposed and arranged in parallelismthereto, and that are adapted to fold into the box with the cigars, as packed at the factory, without requiring additional space for their occupancy and the consequent necessity of employing a larger cigar-box for the same number of cigars heretofore packed in a giveusized box, and said chain will as readily unfold there rom to serve as a connecting and conveying device for lifting in layers and conveying the cigars in successive parallelism therefrom to the point {of delivery, thereby attordinga means for exhibiting and removing the cigars from the top of-the box in a satisfactory and inex pensive manner.

The chain cups or retainers are preferably out or stamped to the proper shape and are made of uniform width and joined succes-- sively to each other by a cord or thread 9 and so tied that the cups are held in alinement to present the retaining orifices or bores 10 thereof in parallelism,while providing a flexible joint betweeneach retainer that will allow of sufficient vertical play and separation each from the other to admit of folding one upon the other in layers, as shown in Fig. 3, and

that will permit the teeth of the draft mechanism to pass between them in a manner to be hereinafter described. The chains thus constructed are preferably formed out of paper or other cheap material, that is flexible and that'can be made cheap en'pugh to allow of discarding after once using. It is alsoproposed to make them ornamental and to coat the interior walls with shellac or parafiin in order to protect the cups from losing their zontally-disposed shafts l2 and 13, which lat-' shape under the influence of moisture to be found in cigars when first packed.

The chains can readily be filled with cigars by sticking the ends of the latter into the bores of the retaining-cups to form a belt conveyer, and said chain belt thus provided can be cut to any suitable length to fold into a suificient number of layers to fill a cigarbox as now pack d. l

The cups or retainers are numbered in arith- -metical progression for the purpose of indi-- eating in a serial order the number of cigars in said chain belt as well as indicating, when arranged for vending, the number of cigars vended at any time froma given box.

Thedraft mechanism required to cooperate with the chain-carrier in order to feed the cigars from the box to the point of delivery consists, preferably, of two pairs of verticallydisposed rotatable drums or sprocket-wheels 11, that are mounted, respectively, on horiter are journaled at 14 and 15 and'in parallelism at such a distance from each other that the relative positions of the respective drum".

pairs to the others are such that in the absence of the chain members the wheel-peripheries have no conneciion with. each other. Said drums are provided on their peripheries With roiincral ing semispherical grooves or concavities 16, that extend to form teeth 17, said grooves-and teeth being of such a width and size as to beadapted' to register with each olher to fit or socket and bear againstvthe cylindrical sides of the cupn'etainerswhen drawn successively into working contact therewith.

The dru m-shafts are provided at their ends to the right with gear-wheels 18 and 19, that mesh with each other to form a controlling means for positively maintaining thedrumwheels ina relative position to insure the registering of the grooves thereon.

By the above-described means it will be seen that the rotation of the drums will cause a regular forward progressive movement and an equalized draft upon the respective chain members, so as to bring them successively with the oppositely-positioned bores of each in perfect alinement and into a position where if the reduced ends of the cigars could be dislodged from the retaining-cups they could be discharged into a delivery-chute; but it is necessary in order to free the cigars from the chain members thus disposed to provide a means whereby the cigars can beliberated from the harness with uniform accuracy and positiveness and dislodged at the proper point, and to this end it is proposed to pass the chains over a horizontal plane or way 20, that is provided intermediate of the cigar-box and the draft mechanism and which is, wide enough to allow of the lateral display and overrnnning transit therethrough of the cigars. It is proposed to elevate this horizontal platform a little aboi e the plane occupied by the cigar-box and to provide the same with diverging side pieces2l,'that will extend from the entrance end 22 to the discharge end 23, and to provide in connection with said diverging side pieces guideways 24, arranged in parallelism therewith to insure the gnidance and gradual separation of the chain members and the consequent displacement ofthe ends of the cigars from the bores of the retaining-cups after they have reached a predetermined point near the dischargingslot 25. The cigars thus freed are pushed gently one by one down the chute.

The guide-cleats are beveled inwardly to conform with the reduced ends of the cigars and may be made with downwardly-extending pins or dowels 27, that fitinto corresponding holes 28, and which may be positionedafi different distances from each other in order to accommodate-cigars of different lengths.

Extending transversely across the horizontal way between the guideways 24 at a suit-.

able distance from the discharge-opening of the chute isa slot 29, inwhich is disposed and. loosely fitted a similar shaped bar or gate 30, thatis normally projected above the level of the horizontal plane into the pathway of the traveling cigars to form a depressible gate to regulate the passage and discharge ofthe cigars at that point and permit them to pass singly into the discharge-chute 31. This gate is sustained from beneath by 'a spring 32 so positionedcentrally in relation to said gate thatit notonlyyields downwardly I to allow for the passage of the cigar, but forms a balancing-point to allow for the 'unequal displacement of the respective ends of said gate toadjust itself to the condil ions incident to the irregular lateral advancement or feed IIO of thecigars at that point. Codperating with i i this means for regulating the forward advancement and discharge of the cigars and extending over the entire horizontal plane is aglass-plate covering 33, that is lunged to the case, so as to bring lh.e glass in proximity with-the top level of the layers of the cigars as they advance across the way, which glass cover on account of its proximity thereto tends to act as a leveling device as well as a housing for the cigars thus displayed.

The primary shaft 12 of the draftmechanism is arranged to receive its motion from the crank or handle shaft 3i through the bevel gear-wheel S5,whlch is mounted near one end of said primary shaft and that is held normally under the control of the spring tension device 36, which coiled about the end of the shaft, the ends of which abut between said bevel gear-wheel and the arm 37. Said bevel-gear is adapted to be driven by the pinion 38, that works at right angles thereto and that is carried at the innerend of a sleeve or hollow shaft 59, which sleeve is mounted to rotate coincidently with the crank-shaft on the same longitudinal axis in one direction when broughtintv'i operative connection therewith by the interposition of a proper coin. The gear-wheels are so proportioned that a revolution of the crank-slial't will cause the feeding-(ire ms to revolve fa r enough to cause the chain to dislodne and (lischar e a sinule 1 cigar. The gears can be so proportioned rclatively to each other that they can be rotated to cause the drums to turn snlliciently to vcnd any number of cigars at one operation. The sleeve thus mounted carries oppositely-extending radial flat arms or guidem'ings i land 4C1, which are provided centrally with a vertically-extending slot or opening t), within which aradially -disposcd arm 43 extends from the crank-shaft at ll, and although swingingin the same concentric plane is free to pass unless obstructed by the interposition of a coin. This radial arm is provided with a i'orwar-tlly-extcnding hook at its free end. The object of this latter construction and arrangement of arms is to provide an automatic clutch or coupling mechanism that can be keyed or united together by the interposition of a proper coin between either one of the guide-wings and the radial arm, so that when the crank-shaft is revolved in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. l the power there from is transmitted by reason of this working contact established by the employment of the coin through the iotating sleeve to the gear mechanism to cause the drums to turn until the respective arms have swung into 21 downward plane, where the coin is freed by gravity and fallsintoa placeoi deposit, and tbodrums have been turned a predetermined distance to vend a cigar, when the arms are disconnected from operative contact To cause the handle ll ol' the crank-shaft to beretnrncd to its original position, there is provided a coiled spriug'lT, which isadapted to the shalt adjacent to the rrank-lmndle and is: adapted to rota o it in a direction opporeite to that indicated by he arrow in Fig. Lila-reby acting to normally hold the same in a po-- sition shown in said figure. This spring; is secured by one of its ends to the plate 48, while the other end is secured to the shaftin such a manner that by the rotation of the shaft in the direction indicated by the arrow the spring will he coiled up.

The range of movementof the handle is governed by the stop-arm ll), which strikes relations to the lower extremity of the coindelivery chute 51.

represents the dumping or inspection chamber that is secured to the top of the frame 53 in any suitable manner and which is shown in coin receiving and discharging positions, respectively, in Figs. 5 and 6. The top and front of said chamber are partly cut away to provide for glass-covered observation-apertures 54-, as shown in Fig. 1. The object of such apertures is to show clearly to the public the contents of the box for the purpose of indicating the amountof saleand to prevent by this ready means of detection the use of dummy or counterfeit coin.

The box is provided. with a coin-receiving spout :35 and a coin-dumping bottom plate to. The latter consists of a pivoted plate, as shown in Fig. which rests upon a rockshaft :37, extending through the studs 58, de pending on eitherside from the bottom of the frame of the box, which shaft is pivotally mounted therein and secured beneath the bottom of the plate in such a manneras to icrmit the dumping thereof when required by a slight movement of the tripping mechanism. I

To prevent the simultaneous presence of two coins in the dumping-bar or inspectionchamber and to give notice of the reception and discharge of coin simultaneously therefrom, i provide the following simple mechanism: ne end of the rocleslmt't is extended to form an arm 59, that carries at one end a gongdntiHIllC-l' (3U, extended atsuitablc length to reach in its forward movement the gong or bell 3.1, located at 62 on the frame and arranged to be struck by said hammer. Arranged in operativecontact with the extended arm 51) is the arm of bail 32 that is bent to extend about the frame in three planes and that is pivotally connected to the frame at 3-1 on both sides of the box, so as to swingfreoly, and which normally r sts ii a position with its sides projecting upwardly in an inclined position, with its cross member 65 extended within the line of travel of the vertically swinging guide-wings, (represented in dotted lines,) and which isadaptod to be vertically rcciprocatod to operate the mechanisms, as follows: When the bail is struck by the downward swing of the guide-wing, it is caused to have a forcible downward movement until the wing has driven it out of range of its con centric plane of revolution and has carried the rock-shaft and hammer-arm to the limit of their movements to cause the tilting of the bottom plate; The latter parts are caused to recover their normal positions, as shown in sleeve-shaft with said crank-shaft and by .40

Fig. 5, by reason of the tensioned force of the coiled spring 66, that is wound about the rocker-shaft and which has a projecting arm 67, that presses beneath the bottom plate and that is extended in the direction of recovering its normal state, while the hammer-arm in its return is swung forcibly into contact with the gong to sound an alarm.

The coin-slotway G8 is of a width and thickness to accurately coincide with the dimensions of the proper coin, and said slotway is arranged at a suitable incline and is apertured or provided with open communications 69 on the front and rear faces of its lower extremity, thereby leaving two narrow depending channels 70, that furnish side bearings for the edges of the coin of the proper size, but that are so spaced as to allow of the dropping out of a smaller-sized coin than the one intended for use. These channels extend in a plane nearly coincident with the normal po-" sition of the upturned guide-wing, as shown in Fig. 6.

The operation: The coin, afterv being inserted in the slot by the operating purchaser, slips easily down the inclined slotway to a point where its lower edges come in, resting contact with the hub of the radial arm and its side edges are allowed to bear only against the side channels. The operating-handle is then grasped by the operator and moved in the direction indicated by the arrow, thereby rotating the radial arm into a position where it bears against the front face of the coin to push said coin against the front face of the guide-wing 41, where it rides to form, in connection with said guide-wing, a clutch mechanism that unites in operative connection the a continued rotation transmits the power through the gear system to the rotatable feeddrums 11 to cause a predetermined movement of the chain and the vending of the cigars in a manner hereinbefore pointed out. The movement of thesekeyed levers is continued to a point where the wing' strikes in its line of travel the trip mechanism and therebyactuating in operative sequence the dumping bottom plate and the alarm device, which has at the same moment described the arc of the circle indicated by dotted lines, whose limit is determined by the stop-arm coming in contact with the stop pin or stud, when the crank-lever is released by the operator and allowed to be returned to its normal position by reason of the tensioned force of the coiled spring and the coin is allowed to drop away .to the place of temporary deposit in the in- "spection-chamber.

Having described my invention, what I de-' sire to claim as new and useful is- 1. A machine or apparatus of the class described comprising the following instrumentalities; a coin-controlled draft mechanism, a foldable conveyer provided with means for engaging merchandise articles, and means box, and means for automatically disassoci ab 1'" .ing said cigarsjrom the conveyer;

- in o erative withdrawal i-elation'to the cigars) Ipac ed in said box, said engaging means!- their connection with the conveyer fot flth'a for disassociating said articles from the conveyer, for. the purpose set fortln p 1 "j 2. In a machine of the class described thecombination' with a coin controlled draft. mechanism, of a. conveyer' that is adapted fold into a box, and that is provided with en-f gaging means arranged in operative withe, drawal relation to the cigars packed in said 3. The combinatioflwith a edinzdififl llbd draft mechanism, of a flexible donveyer that is adapted to fold intoa box, saidc'onveye'r' beingprovided with engaging means'arranged ing adapted to present a yieldable bear-15g surface against the respective cigars, when held in operative relation thereto, and mean! for severing the cigars from their eonn'ecti'op; with the conveyor, for the purpose set forth? 4. The combination with a coin-controlled, draft mechanism, of a flexible conveyor the is adapted to fold into a box, said conveyor being provided with engaging means arranged. in operative withdrawal relation toth'e cigars. packed in said box, said engaging m'eansbeing adapted to present a yieldable bear-hisurface against the respective cigars,whjgn held in operative relation thereto; and mesh! for severing, successively, the cigars from purpose set forth. p I 5. The combination with a coin-controlled or analogous machine of a mechanisnlr ai ranged to engage and move a conveyor-1 r J mess that is adapted to fold into a box a that is arranged topositivelyengage and 1; Q merchandise articles fromsaid box to 195 point of delivery and means for disassobiating the articles from their connection with said conveyer for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a coin-controlled, I

draft mechanism of a flexible conveyor that rx'o is adapted to fold into a boxind thatis'provided at spaced intervals with engaging means that is adapted to effectively hold at gars in juxtaposed parallelism, whereby their contiguous body portions abut. against one u;

another so as to present a continuous layer i of cigars unfolding from a boxyand means located in the pathway of the traveling thus united, for separating suocessively tfifi cigars from the advancing layer and (iii-7 not charging same to the point of delivery, as and for the purpose set forth.

7. The combination with a coin-controlled draft mechanism, of a flexible conveyor, that};

is adapted to fold into a box, and that is pro- 133,:

vided with engaging means arranged in operative withdrawal relation to the respective ends of cigars packed in said box; and means for disassociating said cigars from the conveyer at a point of delivery.

8. In combination with a coin-controlled I mechanism, a flexible carrier consisting of two members that are adapted to fold into opposite sides of a cigar-box, said members being provided with engaging means that are in operative withdrawal relation to the cigars packed in said box; and means for electing the cigars from the engaging means at the point of delivery.

{2. The combination with a coin-controlled mechanism of a draft mechanism adapted to engage a pair of chains which hold in harness cigars for vending between the same and means adapted to separate them near the point of delivery, whereby the cigars are successively freed, substantially as herein described.

10. The combination in a vendingapparatus of a mechanism adapted to engage and move a pair of chain members which hold in harness cigars for vending direct from a package and means for controlling in unison both the forward and separating movements of said chain members, substantially as described.

11. lhe combination in a cigar-vending ap' paratus of a draft mechanism adapted to engage and move a pair of chain members that consist each of a plurality of retainers for encirelingthe respective ends of cigars arranged in parallelism to form a harness conveying belt, said retainers being flexibly joined together to admit of folding the cigars in layers into a box and means for disassociating said retainers from the respective ends of the elgars, substantially as described.

12. The combination in acigar-vending machine of a draft mechanism adapted to engage and move a pair of chain members that consist each of a plurality of retainers for encircling the respective ends of cigars arranged in parallelism to form a harness conveying-belt therefor, said retainers being joined together to admit of folding the cigars in layers into a box and guideways intermediate of the cigarbox and the point of delivery, whereby the chains are gradually separated and the ends of the cigars freed successively from the retainers, substantially as described.

13'. The combination in a cigar-vendingmachine ofa draft mechanism adapted to engage and move a pair of chain members that consist each of a plurality of retainers for encircling the respective ends of cigars arranged in parallelism to form a harness convcyingbelt therefor, said retainers being flexibly joined together to admit of folding the cigars inlayers intoa box: and a horizontal platform arranged intermediate of said box and the point of delivery, said platform being providcd with diverging side pieces and guidevays arranged in parallelism therewith, and I in range with the draft. mechanism, whereby 5 he chains are grzuiually eparz'ite l. and. tho 5 u ls; ol' ilici "m s :1 re sucr'oredvtxly l l'Qttl from 1 lH: l' ililllil-r 'unl nlrv as described,

1 I. 'lhw n ubinnl u in a cigawvendingmp iatus o :1. draft mechanism adapted to on gag-1;. and more a pair of chain members that onsist wi -h of a pluralitvof retainers forencircling the respective ends of cigars arranged in parallelism to form a harness conveyingbelt therefor, said retainers being flexibly joined together to admit of folding the cigars in layers into a box; and a horizontal platform arranged intermediate of said'box and the point of delivery, said platform being. provided with diverging side pieces and guideways arranged in parallelism therewith; and agate extending transverselyacross said platform near the point of delivery to regulate the successive discharge of the cigars liberated, substantially as described.

15. The combination in a cigar-vending machine of a draft mechanism adapted to engage and move a pair of chain members, that consist each of a plurality of retainers for encircling the respective ends of cigars arranged in parallelism to form a harnessconveying-belt therefor, said retainers being flexibly joined together; and a horizontal platform arranged intermediate of said box and the point of delivery, said platform being provided with diverging side pieces and guideways arranged the reduced ends of the cigars; a gate bar or plate loosely fitted in a slot extending transversely across the platform adjacent to the point of discharge said gate being yicldingly supported from beneath by a spring and adapted to be depressed by the pressure exerted by the moving cigars, to allow of the single discharge of a cigar, substantially as described. 7

1d. The combination with a power-shaft adapted to be rotated and provided with a ra-v dially-extendingarm,of a sleeveshaft mounted to rotate on the same longitudinal axis, said sleeve'shaft being provided with a drivl ing-pinion and with opposite radially-extending wings that have central openings to allow the radial arm to be swung thcrethrongh and permit the revolution of both in the same concentric plane, thereby forming a clutch mechanism for the reception of an interposed coin; and means for moving a chain carrier while in contact, said means being driven by a gear that is held in operative relation with the driving-pinion mounted on the sleevershaft, the whole arranged and operating suhstantially as described. l7. Ina coin-controlled nmchine the coml bination with a coin-slotway, having at its 1 lower extremity apcrturcd front and rear faees,of rotary guide and coin-recei ving arms,

having a common longitudinal axisand' which are arranged to be brought in operative relation and swing through the apertured extremity of said slotway, and are adapted to receive and transfer a co'in inserted in said slolivay to a plat-o of deposit.

I The combination with a, pou'er-sllal't :ulnpleil to be manually op -rated of a shall. i arranged to be key d thew-lo bythoeniploymeiit olf a coin, said slml't having opposite ra liallyextcnding arms; and a coin catch or dumping box having a pivoted bottom plate;

and a trip mechanism adapted to tilt said bottom plate.

7 slotwayto a place of deposit; and a meansfor' 19. ,In a coin-controlled machine the combination with a coin-slotway, having at its. lower extremity apertured frontand rearfaces,9 rotary gnide and coin-receiving arms, having a common longitudinal axis and whichare arranged to be brought in operative re-' lation and swing through the apertured extremity of said slotway, and are adapted to receive and transfer a; coin inserted in said automatically operating a substantially as described.

20. The combination with a power-shaft gong mechanism,

adapted to be manually rotated, of a shaft arranged to be keyed thereto by theempIoyment of a coin, saidshaft having opposite radially-extending arms; and a coin catch or dumping box havinga pivoted bottonr'plate,

and a trip mechanism adapted totilt said bot-1 tom plate, said tilting mechanism being arranged within the line of travel of the radi- WILLIAM LOGAN DUNHAM. Witnessesi i FRANK D. BLACKISTONE, v T. L. CLEAR.

ally-extending arms and adapted to be oper- 

